10 Essentials: Rick Klotz of Warriors of Radness

Once upon a time there were a boatload of rad-as-hell brahhhs surfing the coast of Southern California. The trunks were neon, the hair Spicolian, and the attitudes were fresh to the max. It was called the '80s and Klotz was there taking notes the whole ride. In 2008, after about 20 years of running his own T-shirt-focused company, he collected all those thoughts and launched Warriors of Radness, an irreverent throwback surf line full of in-your-face graphic tees, pull-overs in a kaleidoscopic palette, and tribal printed trunks. The volume on every item is turned way up. Similarly, Klotz's life is anything but subdued. Here, he lets us in on a few of his secrets to an authentically chill and stylish life.

Photo: Eric Ray Davidson

1. Trojan Latex Condoms

"Man, I've used these since childhood! My dad gave me some for the first time when I was 14 years old. I get the economy pack and I never stray from Trojans. They're trusted and reliable. You know what they say: Use 'em or lose it."

2. '60s Surf and Lounge Music on Vinyl

"I've been collecting vinyls since I was like 12, especially upbeat pop music and all that shit like Annette Funicello from the '60s surf music scene. I've probably got a 30-foot wall that's eight feet high and it's packed with records. I don't even own an MP3 player. Never have."

3. Graphis Annuals

"This is an incredible graphic inspiration from the pre-computer era when logos were created by hand, sans a mouse. The first one came out in the '50s, and I dig all the ones up through the '80s. I love that things like this used to be created through a very tangible process between your brain and your hands."

4. Vintage Work Boots

"I bought these as dead stock like 12 years ago at a store called Remix. They have a great old school quality. I like dressing them up with my Warriors of Radness (or WOR, as we usually call it) muscle pants too, which I wear every day. They're never out of style for me."

5. WOR Muscle Pants

"Speaking of those, they're the most practical pant on earth. I wear 'em everyday, all day... sometimes even overnight. My first muscle pants were a pair of Jimmy'Z from the '80s. I tried to model the silhouette after those."

6. Apocalypse Now Redux

"Here Coppola does an epic movie on war but also throws in the best surf scene ever. Lt. Bill Kilgore, played by Robert Duvall, insists on a couple of his men getting out in the water and says, 'You either surf or you fight!' "

7. GLSA Membership

"My buddies and I noticed that the surf community was really narrow-minded when it came to issues like sexuality. So, as a joke, we used to go out in the water holding hands to make other surfers uptight. We started the Gay and Lesbian Surf Association to address the issue. We've had fun with it, making stickers and shirts. It's become a serious thing though too. Gay and straight friends have been really great about supporting it. Our motto: 'Come on out... the water's fine!' "

8. Christenson 9'8" Noserider

"Christenson is a rad board shaper from San Diego. I just recently got a log from him because my friend was surfing one and I was like 'Hey, I love that board. I gotta have one.' "

9. Wet Magazine Collection

"This magazine was from the '70s. It was about the art of 'gourmet bathing and beyond.' The articles were all related to water—seltzer, hot springs, ocean. A guy name Leonard Koren started it and it's genius."

**10. Four Loko **

"This caffeinated flavored malt liquor is like the poor man's champagne. I've got a fridge stocked with it. Now that the FDA has taken issue with it, I grab it whenever I see it at a store."

Once upon a time there were a boatload of rad-as-hell brahhhs surfing the coast of Southern California. The trunks were neon, the hair Spicolian, and the attitudes were fresh to the max. It was called the '80s and Klotz was there taking notes the whole ride. In 2008, after about 20 years of running his own T-shirt-focused company, he collected all those thoughts and launched Warriors of Radness, an irreverent throwback surf line full of in-your-face graphic tees, pull-overs in a kaleidoscopic palette, and tribal printed trunks. The volume on every item is turned way up. Similarly, Klotz's life is anything but subdued. Here, he lets us in on a few of his secrets to an authentically chill and stylish life.